The ruger is a little on the high side for more because all Im going to do is play around with it. I dont want to spend around $800 on a gun that i cant even deer hunt with! That is why i have narrowed it down between the savage and marlin. I have shot the marlin and its a good little gun but i also like the accutrigger on the savage. I think I am just going to go with the savage. What about the sweet 17 scopes? are they pretty accurate? and dependable